Citing a movie adaptation of a book requires acknowledging both the source material (the book) and the adaptation (the film). You must accurately credit the original author and the filmmakers who brought their work to the screen, employing different citation formats for each. This article provides a comprehensive guide to achieving this, ensuring academic integrity and giving due credit where it’s deserved.
Understanding the Landscape: Book-to-Film Adaptations and Academic Integrity
The world of literature and cinema often intertwine, giving rise to captivating adaptations that bring beloved stories to life. However, navigating the citation process for these works can be tricky. Neglecting to properly credit both the original author and the filmmakers is a serious oversight, potentially leading to accusations of plagiarism or a failure to recognize the collaborative nature of filmmaking. Understanding the nuances of citation allows you to accurately represent the creative lineage of the work you’re referencing.
Mastering Citation Styles: APA, MLA, and Chicago
While the general principle of crediting both the book and the film remains constant, the specific formatting rules vary depending on the citation style you’re using. Let’s examine the most common styles:
APA Style
The American Psychological Association (APA) style focuses on the date of publication and the authors involved. When citing a movie based on a book in APA, you essentially create two separate entries: one for the book and one for the film.
- Book Citation: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book (Edition, if applicable). Publisher.
- Film Citation: Director, D. D. (Director). (Year). Title of movie [Motion picture]. Production Company.
For example, citing The Lord of the Rings book and film adaptations would look like this:
- Book: Tolkien, J.R.R. (1954). The Fellowship of the Ring. George Allen & Unwin.
- Film: Jackson, P. (Director). (2001). The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring [Motion picture]. New Line Cinema.
In the body of your paper, you would reference them as (Tolkien, 1954) and (Jackson, 2001). If you are directly quoting from the film, provide a timestamp, e.g., (Jackson, 2001, 00:23:15).
MLA Style
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style emphasizes the authors and titles of works. Like APA, it generally requires separate entries for the book and the film.
- Book Citation: Author, Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
- Film Citation: Title of Movie. Directed by Director, Production Company, Year.
Using the Lord of the Rings example again:
- Book: Tolkien, J.R.R. The Fellowship of the Ring. George Allen & Unwin, 1954.
- Film: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Directed by Peter Jackson, New Line Cinema, 2001.
In your text, you would refer to them as (Tolkien) and (Lord of the Rings film). If citing a specific line or scene from the film, you can indicate the timestamp, like (Lord of the Rings film, 00:23:15).
Chicago Style
The Chicago Manual of Style offers two main formats: Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date.
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Notes-Bibliography (preferred for humanities):
- Book Citation: Author, First Name Last Name. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year.
- Film Citation: Title of Movie. Directed by Director. Place of Publication: Production Company, Year.
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Author-Date (preferred for sciences):
- Book Citation: Author, Last Name, First Name. Year. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher.
- Film Citation: Title of Movie. Year. Directed by Director. Place of Publication: Production Company.
Here’s how the Lord of the Rings examples would appear in Notes-Bibliography:
- Book: Tolkien, J.R.R. The Fellowship of the Ring. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954.
- Film: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Directed by Peter Jackson. New York: New Line Cinema, 2001.
In the Author-Date system, you would cite them as (Tolkien 1954) and (Lord of the Rings 2001).
Practical Examples: Beyond Lord of the Rings
Let’s look at a few more examples using different citation styles.
Movie: The Shining (based on the book The Shining by Stephen King)
- APA:
- King, S. (1977). The Shining. Doubleday.
- Kubrick, S. (Director). (1980). The Shining [Motion picture]. Warner Bros.
- MLA:
- King, Stephen. The Shining. Doubleday, 1977.
- The Shining. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, Warner Bros., 1980.
- Chicago (Notes-Bibliography):
- King, Stephen. The Shining. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1977.
- The Shining. Directed by Stanley Kubrick. Burbank, CA: Warner Bros., 1980.
Movie: Pride & Prejudice (based on the book Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen)
- APA:
- Austen, J. (1813). Pride and Prejudice. T. Egerton, Whitehall.
- Wright, J. (Director). (2005). Pride & Prejudice [Motion picture]. Universal Pictures.
- MLA:
- Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. T. Egerton, Whitehall, 1813.
- Pride & Prejudice. Directed by Joe Wright, Universal Pictures, 2005.
- Chicago (Notes-Bibliography):
- Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. London: T. Egerton, Whitehall, 1813.
- Pride & Prejudice. Directed by Joe Wright. Universal Pictures, 2005.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
FAQ 1: Do I always need to cite both the book and the movie?
Yes, in most cases, citing both the book and the film is essential when discussing a book-to-film adaptation. It acknowledges the original source and the transformative work of the filmmakers. If your focus is exclusively on the film adaptation and you’re not discussing the book’s content, you might cite only the film. However, if the film is being analyzed as an adaptation, you must cite both.
FAQ 2: What if I only read the book and then saw the movie?
Even if you experienced the book before seeing the movie, you should still cite both if you are discussing the film’s adaptation of the book’s content. The book is the source material for the film.
FAQ 3: How do I cite a specific scene or quote from the movie?
When citing a specific scene or quote, include a timestamp in your in-text citation. This allows readers to locate the exact moment you’re referencing. For example, (Jackson, 2001, 01:15:30) in APA or (Lord of the Rings film, 01:15:30) in MLA.
FAQ 4: What if the movie title is different from the book title?
Cite the film using its actual title, regardless of whether it matches the book title. Ensure you also correctly cite the book under its title.
FAQ 5: Should I cite the screenwriter or just the director?
Citing the director is generally sufficient for film citations. While screenwriters play a crucial role, the director is typically considered the primary authorial figure in filmmaking. You can, however, mention the screenwriter in your discussion of the film.
FAQ 6: What if the movie is an anthology or a series of short stories adapted into a film?
In this case, cite the film as a whole and, if necessary, cite each individual short story or segment of the anthology separately, crediting the respective authors.
FAQ 7: How do I cite a documentary based on a book?
The principles remain the same. Cite the book and then the documentary film, clearly indicating that the latter is a documentary.
FAQ 8: What if the movie is a very loose adaptation and deviates significantly from the book?
Even if the adaptation is loose, it’s still necessary to cite the book as the source material. In your analysis, you can then discuss the deviations and differences between the two works.
FAQ 9: How do I handle multiple directors or production companies?
Cite the first director listed in the credits (and use “et al.” if the style requires it) and list all the production companies.
FAQ 10: What if I’m using a less common citation style not mentioned here?
Consult the official style guide for that particular citation style. Many styles offer specific guidelines for citing films and books, and you should adhere to their recommendations. If the style guide doesn’t address adaptations, adapt the general guidelines for citing books and films, ensuring consistency.
FAQ 11: Should I include the year the book was originally published or the year of the edition I read?
Cite the year of the edition you are using, unless your analysis specifically requires referring to the original publication year.
FAQ 12: Is it acceptable to use citation management software (like Zotero or Mendeley) to generate these citations?
Absolutely. Citation management software can greatly simplify the process of creating accurate citations. Ensure you double-check the generated citations for accuracy, as software isn’t always perfect, especially with complex situations like book-to-film adaptations.
By following these guidelines and understanding the nuances of different citation styles, you can confidently and accurately cite movies based on books, ensuring academic integrity and giving proper credit to both authors and filmmakers. Remember to consult the specific style guide you are using for the most precise formatting requirements.